Scientist decries lack of implementing agro action plans in Africa

Scientist has said that in order to combat poverty on the continent, African leaders must implement various actions plans already mapped by strategic groups.

Speaking at the just ended Highway Africa conference in Cape Town, South Africa, Dr. Richard Munag, a Scientist with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) advised African countries to implement action plans earlier outlined to pave way for its improvement, reports RadioVOP.

Dr. Munag, also told participants that most African countries have National Action Plans but these action plans are not been implemented.

He equally said at the conference with the theme "African Media and the Global Sustainability Challenge" noted that the confab seeks to encourage African journalists in the coverage of issues surrounding climate change, food security and global sustainability.

Keith Alverson, another Scientist said it would be devastating for governments not to address issues on global sustainability and climate change on time.

"It is high time that countries address issues of the environment" Keith said that since statistics have it that 30million hectares of forest are lost yearly. Read more

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Legislators worry over food insecurity

With at least 12.4 million people facing drought in Eastern part of the continent, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has expressed worries over the food insecurity.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that EALA has taken steps that will bring about lasting solutions to drought and food insecurity in the region by recently announcing strategic measures to be taken.

Though approved by the Assembly in December last year, EALA wants to enthrone a common food security strategy in addition to a 25-year action plan tagged, the East African Agricultural Development Action Plan to run from 2010 to 2035.

IPPMedia reports that EALA in partnership with global parliamentarians from 30 countries appealed for aid in combating the extreme hunger threatening the lives of over 10 million East Africans.

Speaker of EALA, Abdirahin Abdi, said at a press conference in Kigali, Rwanda recently that the drought is the worst in six decades. Read more

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Farmers told to strengthen cooperatives

A senior lecturer of the Department of Food Technology, Kyambogo University, Uganda, Dr. Byarugaba Bazirake has advised farmers to strengthen co-operatives so as to boost transportation of farm produce, reports AllAfrica.

This, he said would remove middlemen exploitation of the farmers.

"A middleman takes 100 per cent profit, this business does not benefit or motivate the farmer," while speaking at a recently Pan Africa Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Consortium (PANAAC) organized agribusiness stakeholder meeting.

PANAAC is a continental network with the objective of improving the linkages in the agriculture industry while increasing the food value production. Read more.

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Technology to improve agricultural yields - Fadama

The involvement of Information and Communications Technology in agricultural practice would lead to an increase in output for local farmers, AllAfrica reports.

This, Mr. Tayo Adewunmi, the Acting National Project Coordination of the Fadama III programme stated this at the technical forum on the commencement of Component IV analysis.

He also said the focus of the Component Four is research and agricultural extension to be able to carry out numerous activities especially practical demonstration for farmers.

Fadama's priority according to Adewunmi is to fall in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria by working towards the attainment of food security and making contributions to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Read more

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Experts warn against trans-bounder animal diseases

Veterinary experts from East Africa and Horn of Africa at a three-day meeting in Kigali, last week discussed the cause of animal diseases, just as they cautioned over Trans-bounder animal Diseases (TADs).

According to AllAfrica, the experts said TAD could lead to food insecurity in the region.

They warned that if no serious action is taken to avert the transmission while seeking a common approach towards the prevention of animal diseases across borders to ensure food security.

Director-General, Rwanda Animal Resources Development (RARDA), Dr. Christine Kanyandekwe, affirmed the tendency of TAD, pointing out that it was imperative for regional countries to develop such an approach.

"We have seen animals dying of these diseases in various parts of Africa. We should not therefore sit as our animals die. We need to draw a roadmap to prevent these diseases," she said. Read more

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UNEP says forest protection to create 5m jobs

A new report from the United Nations’ Environment Programme (UNEP) has shown that spending about N6.24 trillion, just 0.034 per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually in forest protection would create estimated 5 million jobs worldwide.

The Citizen reports that such investment would allow forests to absorb 28 per cent more carbon from the atmosphere.

UNEP further said in the report that the proposed investment would lead to about 140 per cent rise in the number of new trees to be planted and increase employment in the forest sector, which currently at 25 million to 30 million by the middle of the century.

Additionally, the report stated that public and private sectors could be sourced for finance using strategies that pay landowners for maintaining the ecosystems.

With a drop in the annual net forest since 1990 from about eight million hectares to about five million hectares, it is reported that the amount of forested areas has actually increased over those 20 years in some regions of Asia, the Caribbean and Europe. Read more

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Pressure on soil threatens global food security - FAO

The Director General of Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Jacques Diouf, has called for a renewed global effort to ensure sufficient fertile and healthy soils usage, reports StarAfrica.

Speaking recently in Rome, Italy, Diouf at the commencement of a three-day meeting to launch a new Global Soil Partnership for Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, warned that pressures on the world's soil resources coupled with land degradation are threats to global food security.

He noted that Africa with 6.3 million hectares of degraded farmlands having lost their fertility and water holding capacity, hence the need for a regeneration of the soil to be able to meet the food demands in years to come.

According to Jacques, soil is an essential component of the world's production systems and ecosystems, but is also fragile and non-renewable resources though could be easily degraded to difficult and expensive to regenerate. Read more

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Efficient energy, low carbon economy top ICCEC confab

The third annual conference of the International Conference on Clean Energy and Climate Change (ICCECC) 2011, scheduled for next month in London would focus on efficient energy and low carbon economy.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the conference holding between October 27 and 30, this year, would focus on the understanding individual nature coupled with organizational behaviour, decision making and knowledge usage in accelerating transition.

The Organizing Committee revealed that based on the success of previous edition of the confab which had over 700 participants would discuss successful policy and programme strategies, shared importance research findings and built new networks and collaborations.

Other topics mapped out for discussion include renewable and green energy resources and technologies, in addition to biomass, wind and solar energy resources and technologies, just as alternative fuels, market and finance among others.

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Osun State assures farmers on good roads

The Osun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Prince Wale Adedoyin, has assured farmers in the state of good roads, reports MenaFn.

This, he said, would enable farmers to transport their produce from the farms to the market and neighbouring communities as well as the cities.

He made the assurance during his inspection of the work done by Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) at the Iwo farm settlement after listening to the farmers’ plights in getting their goods to the market.

After going round to see the level of preparedness of the government, he said the government will concentrate on major access roads but till after the rainy season.

The State Director of the Project who is also the General Manager of the Osun State Agricultural Development Corporation (OSSADEC), Mr. Adelere Oriolowo pointed out that the job done was to intervene and improve the condition of the roads leading to the farm settlement. Read more

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